Diesel Emissions Threaten the Health of Millions in Latin America and Contribute to Climate Change

Latin American countries could save tens of thousands of lives and help millions of people suffer fewer respiratory illnesses by tackling the world’s second most dangerous climate pollutant – known as black carbon – a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council shows.

Countries across Latin America can significantly cut black carbon emissions by pursuing cleaner fuels, setting new lower vehicle emissions standards and providing financial incentives to retire the oldest, dirtiest vehicles.  The chief source of these black carbon emissions is diesel fueled vehicles, whose numbers are rising on Latin American roadways.

“Black carbon emissions threaten the health of millions in Latin America and contribute to climate disruption already seen in declining Andean glaciers and a drier Amazon Basin,” said Jake Schmidt, NRDC’s international program director.  “The good news is some Latin American countries are already taking steps to curb this dangerous climate pollutant.  We hope many countries will follow and add additional practical and proven measures to dramatically reduce black carbon.  They can improve both public health and the climate that Latin Americans depend on for their livelihood.”

Unlike the world’s leading climate pollutant, carbon dioxide, which persists in the atmosphere for decades or longer, black carbon lingers only for days.  So efforts to curb black carbon emissions would have an impact almost immediately on clean air and health, according to Dumping Dirty Diesels in Latin America: Reducing Black Carbon and Air Pollution from Diesel Engines in Latin American Countries, a report co-authored by NRDC and Gladstein, Neandross and Associations (GNA).

Read more at Diesel Emissions Threaten the Health of Millions in Latin America and Contribute to Climate Change